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The peripheral cannabinoid receptor knockout mice: an update

N E Buckley1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA. nebuckley@csupomona.edu

British Journal of Pharmacology
|October 30, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Mice lacking the CB2 receptor (CB2R-/-) reveal its crucial roles in immunity, development, and various diseases. This model also confirmed CB2R

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) is primarily expressed in immune cells and plays a role in various physiological processes.
  • Understanding the specific functions of CB2R is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the phenotype of CB2 receptor knockout (CB2R-/-) mice.
  • To summarize research utilizing CB2R-/- mice to elucidate CB2R functions.
  • To highlight the utility of CB2R-/- mice in drug and antibody screening.

Main Methods:

  • Phenotypic analysis of CB2R-/- mice.
  • Review of studies employing CB2R-/- mice to investigate CB2R involvement in various biological processes.
  • Assessment of tissue-specific CB2R expression using CB2R-/- mice.
  • Screening of cannabinoid agonists, antagonists, and antibodies using CB2R-/- mouse tissues.

Main Results:

  • CB2R plays a significant role in immune cell function and development, infection, embryonic development, bone loss, liver disorders, pain, autoimmune inflammation, allergic dermatitis, atherosclerosis, apoptosis, and chemotaxis.
  • CB2R is not involved in cannabinoid-induced hypotension.
  • CB2R-/- mice are valuable for determining tissue-specific CB2R expression.
  • CB2R-/- mice facilitate the screening of drug and antibody specificity.

Conclusions:

  • CB2R knockout mice have been instrumental in uncovering the diverse roles of CB2R.
  • The CB2R-/- mouse model is essential for understanding CB2R-mediated physiological and pathological processes.
  • This model significantly aids in the development and validation of CB2R-targeting therapeutics and diagnostics.

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